Gruyere & Sausage Pinwheels
Sausage pinwheels are one of those appetizers that disappear the second you put them on the table. And who can resist them? They’re flaky, golden brown, and packed with savory sausage and gruyere cheese. Easy to make, with just 5 ingredients, and always impressive.
A classic, but elevated.
This is one of those classic recipes that’s simple, unfussy, and always a hit! We modernized it a bit by using gruyere and puff pastry instead of the traditional cheddar cheese and crescent roll dough, which makes for an impressive and delicious bite!
When I was testing this recipe, I tried baking the pinwheels with parchment paper and without to see if NOT using parchment would brown them up even more, but good news, they brown up just as nicely with the parchment paper, so easy clean up is in your future. This savory pinwheels recipe is…
⏰ Quick & easy: These are ready in 30 minutes – quick enough for last-minute entertaining but impressive enough for any occasion.
🧀 Modern flavors: The gruyere takes it up a notch and has so much more flavorful than regular cheddar.
❄️ Make-ahead friendly: Assemble them in advance and bake right before your guests arrive, they’re perfect for parties.
👨👩👧👦 Always a crowd-pleaser: Adults and kids alike can’t resist these flaky, savory spirals.
🔥 Serve hot or room temperature: They’re delicious straight from the oven or made ahead and served at room temp.
I originally created this flaky sausage rolls recipe for Jones Dairy Farm and their Thanksgiving guide, (highly recommend grabbing it for holiday hosting!), and they were kind enough to let me share it here with you!
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to bring this fun appetizer: Jones Dairy Farm pork sausage, shredded gruyere cheese, frozen puff pastry (thawed according to package directions), cream cheese, and red pepper flakes.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: Slice with a very sharp knife using a gentle sawing motion. Pressing down with a dull knife will squash your pinwheels and seal the layers together. For the cleanest cuts, chill your rolled log for 15-20 minutes before slicing, this firms everything up and makes it much easier to get perfect spiral slices without any filling squeezing out.
- Cooking methods:
- Variations:
- Additions: Try adding a thin layer of Dijon mustard or whole grain mustard to the puff pastry before adding the sausage for extra flavor. Chopped fresh herbs like thyme or sage are also delicious mixed into the sausage.
Gruyere & Sausage Pinwheels Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: about 36 rolls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These flaky sausage pinwheels are modernized with gruyere cheese and puff pastry. Easy and always a crowd favorite at parties!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 (16 oz.) Jones All Natural Pork Roll Sausage, thawed
- 1/2 cup shredded gruyere
- 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 17 oz. package (2 8-oz. puff pastry sheets)
Instructions
- Thaw puff pastry sheets; it will take about 40 minutes.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium-low heat and cook sausage, breaking up with a spoon, until cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Combine cream cheese, cooked pork sausage, cheese, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until well combined.
- Spread half of the mixture onto the dough sheet. Roll the dough up like a jelly roll, starting on the short edge. Repeat with the other puff pastry sheet and the remaining sausage mixture.
- Wrap rolls with plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes, or up to a day in advance.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Slice the dough into 1/2-inch thick pinwheels. Lay flat on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
- Storage: Store baked pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to crisp them back up. They also freeze beautifully. Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Ingredients: Gruyere is worth seeking out for its nutty, complex flavor, but Swiss cheese is a good substitute if you can’t find it. Make sure to use frozen puff pastry sheets (like Pepperidge Farm), not puff pastry cups.
- Prep ahead: You can assemble these completely up to 24 hours in advance. Roll, fill, slice, and arrange on your baking sheet, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Serving Suggestions
This is a perfect party appetizer! Serve as part of an appetizer spread.
- Hot Pimento Dip with Bacon
- Smoked Gouda Sausage Balls with Spicy Honey
- Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
- Baked Brie with Fig Jam
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer and founder of My Everyday Table, where she helps busy families take the stress out of weeknight dinners. With a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily specializes in simple, nourishing recipes and weekly meal plans that actually work for everyday life. She’s a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor who believes delicious food and good nutrition go hand in hand.
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Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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